The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 19 Sep, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Finance

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details Proposals for an Improved ACRES Scheme - Engagement with Farmers

Intended results To propose • Much improved lines of communications & engagement between key stakeholders (e.g. DAFM, ACRES CP Teams, planners) & farmers is required. There is too much ambiguity and responsibility deflection ongoing currently, with farmers left frustrated, uncertain where they stand, and out of pocket because of lack of accountability elsewhere. • Provide clarification and transparency on remaining rolling budgets to participants on elements including results-based scorecard payments, NPIs, LAs and the Landscape Bonus. • Greater detail and clarity is required with regard the Landscape (High Achievement) Bonus Payment. While we understand it will reward farmers for high average scores across their private land within CP zones, or where they have a large area of land within the CP zone, and it will be backdated/applied to the full period of participation in the ACRES Scheme – how will it be administered; funded; and what impact (if any) will it have on maximum permitted ACRES payments received (i.e. €52,500) and/or thresholds therein (core or NPI/LA etc)? • DAFM need to proactively notify farmers (& planners) of potential penalties/anomalies arising from non-action. By way of example, where scorecards are not submitted in full by the planner. Flexibilities should be provided where it is evident that the farmer is invested in the scheme, yet planner has not fully executed – for example in instances where at least one parcel scorecard has been submitted successfully, yet others remain in ‘Draft' format. • On low scoring commonages, DAFM should engage directly with those actively cutting turbary and higher stocked farmers (whether ACRES participant or otherwise) to outline the impact of their actions and encourage altered practices and/or grazing management techniques.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Francie Gorman IFA President, John Curran IFA Rural Development Chair, Shane Whelan IFA Senior Policy Executive, Rachel Moloney IFA Policy Executive

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Letter All TDs

Submission All TDs

Letter All Senators

Submission All Senators

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (11-20)

Meeting (2-5)

Social Media (2-5)

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Brian Brennan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brian Purcell Special Adviser (Department of Agriculture and the Marine)

Christopher O'Sullivan Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Emer Higgins Minister of State (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Helen McEntee Minister (Department of Education)

James Browne Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister (Department of Health)

Joe Cooney TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Malcolm Byrne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Heydon Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Michael Healy-Rae Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Michael Moynihan Minister of State (Department of Education)

Noel Grealish Minister of State (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Paschal Donohoe Minister (Department of Finance)

Peter Burke Minister (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment)

Sean Canney Minister of State (Department of Transport)